FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMPION SÉBASTIEN OGIER AND COMEBACK KING THIERRY NEUVILLE LOCK HORNS IN GERMANY THIS WEEKEND IN THE LATEST INSTALMENT OF THE WRC’S THRILLING HEAD-TO-HEAD TITLE FIGHT.
With nine rounds gone and four remaining, the duo are locked together at the top of the standings ahead of the final all-asphalt encounter at ADAC Rallye Deutschland (17 – 20 August).
Neuville holds the nominal advantage, courtesy of three wins in his Hyundai i20 to Ogier’s two at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta.
That could prove key as the Belgian starts first in Friday’s opening leg through narrow vineyard tracks on the banks of the Mosel river. Conditions will worsen with every car as dirt is dragged onto the road, leaving Ogier at a disadvantage one place behind.
Neuville acknowledged the benefit, but denied he would try to pull as much mud onto the road as possible.
“There are a lot of cuts and so the road will get dirty. I won’t take more risks of a puncture just to dirty the road. If I drive fast I know the time will be good. With the cuts we’ll be taking, the road will be dirtier and make it more tricky for him,” he said.
“The target remains to finish ahead of him to get more points rather than try
to win,” added Neuville, who has recovered from a disastrous start to the season which left him trailing Ogier by 38 points after three events.
There are few more difficult asphalt challenges than Germany. Bumpy vineyard tracks, multi-surface tank training roads in the Baumholder military area and narrow country lanes test drivers’ adaptability to the maximum.
The hilly Saarland region is susceptible to heavy rainfall, which can transform road conditions in minutes. Accurate tyre selection is problematic and precise information on the state of the roads from route note ‘spies’ is essential.